SavingTimeArticle

Organizing solutions for your work, home and life!

Saving Time

Do you ever feel like you're always behind the eight ball when it comes to time?

The unfortunate reality is that we’re always going to feel like we don’t have enough time….
Daylight savings or not.

So let’s tackle time and look at different ways that we can make better use of it.

First things first…there are really only 24 hours in the day. We sleep (or should) for at least 6
of those hours. Now we’re down to 18 hours to get things done….let’s make them count.

PLAN WHAT YOU CAN

ork with a schedule in mind

---even a loose one--- will keep you on track. A little

bit of up front planning saves

you

time in the end.

Use

a central calendar to plot out monthly activities.

Whether you use a PDA

(personal digital assistant) or a paper planner, keeping a calendar with scheduled

activities handy is a must. Personally, I prefer electronic calendars with built in

reminders that ring or buzz at a preset time before an appointment to make sure

I’m not late. Input everything from doctor’s visits, soccer practice, school trips to

“date night”. Then get in the habit of

checking your calendar at the start of each

week and morning. Knowing what’s coming ahead helps you avoid schedule pit

falls and double booking.

Set

up a week’s worth of outfits

for you and anyone that you help get dressed

for the week. That’s less time spent in the mornings figuring out or fighting about

what to wear.

4.Create a meal plan

for at least one week in advance…a month if you can! Think

about the meals that you can make with what’s usually on hand or that are family

favorites. Plan the quick meals for during the week and save the elaborate five-star

meal for the weekend. Do all your shopping at the start of the week or month for all

the things you’ll need in your recipes. You’ll save time running back and forth to the

grocery and answering the age old question “What’s for dinner?”

PRIORITIZE
This one is going to be especially difficult. LEARN TO SAY “NO!” Say “no” or “not right
now” to the things that steal time away from you. It could be the bridal shower for your
best friends’ cousin-in-law, or that second trip to the coffee shop that steals your time. Be
stingy with your time—it’s precious. Save it for the people and things that really matter.

IDENTIFY TIME VOIDS

To figure out where your time is best spent, look at the things you do that are actually
costing you valuable time and ask: What are the habits or time voids that seem to always
follow you? It may be constant interruptions, never completing one task before moving to the
other. Or having to many "to dos" on your list. Understanding where you are losing time is a
key step in learning how to save it.

HAVE TIME MANAGEMENT GOALS
There will always be an unexpected event that has to go squeezed in. But when you have
priorities or goals, you’re better able to judge what things should be allowed onto your
schedule---or not.

Be realistic about your goals.

A realistic goal may be to get 1 extra hour of family time a week. With that in mind, it’s
easier to cut back on time voids like surfing the web or watching TV.

USE TIME SAVERS

The VCR and other recording devices are time savers. Tape that show that you can’t
miss and watch it at a time that works better for you.

Break down the housework. Spot clean the house as you go. Wash dishes after each
meal. Throw a load of laundry in during the mid week. Spreading the housework
out over the week can save you solid blocks of time on the weekend.

One of the basic principles of organizing that I believe in is that everything has a time and
place. When it comes to our schedules...Everything has a place in time.

Create places on your calendar that work better for you to do the things that really matter.
Those things that take time away from your end goal should have no place in your time!

Family Calendar Tip!

to manage time with you.

to manage time with you.

~~~~~~~~~
Don’t’ forget to schedule “Me Time.” Taking even
just 20 minutes to do something for yourself is
refreshing and helps you focus!